Electroplating-tank.



G. L. WALLACE. ELEOTROPLATING TANK APPLICATION FILED APR.1,,1909.

" 9435721. Patented Dec. 21,1909

2 SHBETSSHEET 1.

WITNESSES INVENTOR 7 be y Geo rqe 1; W2? 2a w Mmm e. L.-WALLAOE. ELEGTROPLATING TANK APPLIOA TION FILED APR. 1,1909.

Patented Dec.21, 1909.

2 BEEETB-SHEET 2.

.wiTNEssEs 6. C m 0 Ta L 8 w w a ATTORNEYS sort and at the same time to improve their .z. the top as is customary inthis general UNITED STATES GEORGE L. WALLACE. OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

ELECTROPLATING-TANK.

atented Dec. 21,- 1909.

Application filed April 1, 1909, Serial No. 487,318.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, Gnonon L. Wnnmcc, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Bridge ort, .in the county of F airfield apd State of onnecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electroplating-Tanks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in electro-plating devices of the tumbler type and has for its object to simplify and cheapen the construction of tanks of this el'iiciency; to'construct the tank so that the movable receptacle for retaining the work to be plated can readily be removed or replaced forthe purpose of receiving or removingthe articles to be plated.

My plating apparatus obviously belongs to the class wherein several series of anodes and one catho'de areemployed for depositing the metal, one within the work carrying receptacle while the others are located in both said receptacle and the stationary tank within which the work carrying receptacle is located and in part submerged within the plating solution contained within said tank.

Upon the accompanying two sheet of drawings forming a pa rt of this specification similar characters of reference denote like" or corresponding parts throughout theseveral figures and of which,

Figure 1, shows a front end elevation of my improved type of plating tank complete and in an operative position, and Fig. 2, shows acentral vertical sectional view through the machine as seen from arrows, line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Referring in detail to the characters of reference marked upon the drawings 5 represents the stationary tank'of my plating apparatus which would in all probability be constructed of wood, slate-or cement and substantially the shape and proportions shown in the drawings. This tank is open class of devices, and is provided upon opposite sides with a series of anodes G sus-' pended from a rod 7 through which an elec-- tric current is passed from the attached Wires 8. Y

12 represents a rotary receptacle for carrying the work to be platedwhich is also formed of wood, earthenware, rubber, glass or other non-conductive material and of substantially a cylindrical or barrel shape as shown. It is provided with numerous small perforations 13 to allow the fluid of the tank to readily enter when the receptacle is contained therein as shown in the drawings. This receptacle is supported upon a pair of inclined rolls 14 and 15 that are arr augcd adjacent to and in line with each other. They are each provided with shafts one end of which are 'journaled in bearings 16 secured to the upper inner portion ofono side of the tank and 17 secured to thelower portion of the opposite side of the'tan-k.,. l pon each of these rolls is mounted a gear 18 that serves as a holding means t'orthe receptacle resting thereagainst and further serves to mesh with a larger gear 1!) centrally located upon the lower end of the work carrying receptacle. One of these gears, namely that upon the driving roll it serves to i otate the cylindrical receptacle with the'moveim-nt ot' the rolls upon which it issupportcd while the second gear upon the idler roll 15 simply serves to assist in supporting, guiding and steadying the receptacle while in operation. Upon the outer end of the driving roll shaft 14 is mounted a bevel gear 20 that meshes.

with and isidriven by a plain gear 21 mounted upona shaft 22 journaled in the bracket 23 secured to the outside of the tank. The said shaft: 22' is furth'cr provided with a tight and loose pulleyia and 25, by means,

of which therolls-niay be driven or stopped at will as in the act of revolving the recontacle to tumble or plate the parts therein or to permit the receptacle to be removed.

The solution within the tank is normally retained at substantially the level indicated in Fig. 2, and is suilicicut to more than cover the usual quantity of articles placed within the receptacle and likewise more than sutlicient to cover the anode and cathode contained therein. The receptacle being perforated the solution of the tank and receptacle both find substantially the same level. The solution in the receptacle is also renewed from the. tank with each operation, thus permitting the. said solution to he kept charged and be usctbovcr and over as desired.

The anode 26 within the receptacle is preferably disposed at an angle thereto and parallel with the surface of the solution covering the same, and it is adjust ably supported within a sleeve 27 carried upon an arm 28 mounted in a bracket 29 secured to the side of the tank and electrically conwithin the receptacle is disposed longitudiv nally therein and adjacent to the lower side and provided with a connection it to the.

negative pole of dynamo. While this cathode is arranged comparatively near to the side of the receptacle yet in practice it would be'still' enough to prevent the weight of the articles to be placed therein from bearing the same down against the receptacle and interfering with its rotation. j

Through this means it will readily be apand adapted to be submerged within a soluparent that the current is passed through the solution ii the tank from one electrode 1 to the other in a way to disintegrate the one and to charge the solution and form a metal deposit upon the work, not shown, w n submerged within the bath. This eatht .ie connection has a double purpose, 2'. e. first to form the negative connection with the articles to be electro-plated and secondto stir the work or articles to be electro-plated, and thereby enabling the operator to secure a more even plate or distribution of metal on same. This element 30 like the other is supported in a sleeve 3i which in turn is carried by an arm 32 mounted in the bear 1 mg 33 secured to the side of the tank.

The constructioi'i of this arm like the arm 28 previously described is such as to pernnt the cathode to be first drawn up to free the y supporting means. and an anode and cathrtweptaele and then swung around out of the way, thereby allowing the receptacle to be lifted up out of the tank. causing the thud to freely Iiow out through its perforations and thereby leaving the plate therein tree to be poured out.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters latent is:---

I. In an electroplating device, the combination with a tank, of longitiulinally disarticles posed supporting rolls located within the tank, a cylindrical receptacle mounted upon said rolls and adapted to be turned thereby, means "for operating the rolls and receptacle to tumble articles when placed therein, a cathode and anode within the tank and adapted to be suspended withina solution when contained therein.

2. In an electroplating device, the combination with a tank, of a pair of angular-1y disposed supporting rolls located within the tank, a perforated cylindrical receptacle mounted upon said rolls, means for rotating the rolls and receptacle, :1 suitable cathode and anode arranged within the receptaclelion when contained therein.

1 In an electro-plating device, the combination with a tank, of a pair of angular-1y disposed supporting rolls located within the tank, gear connections intermediate the rolls and receptacle to operate the latter from the former, means for rotating the rolls and receptacle, a cathode and anode arrangedode mounted within the tank and adapted to be contained in a plating solution when placed therein.

Signed at Bridgeport, in the county of l airlield and State of Connecticut, this 29th l day ol March, A. l). 1909..

GEORGE l1. WA liliAClC.

Witnesses:

t. M. NnwMAN, ltn'rn RAYMOND. 

